Expert Football > World Football > History > The Modern Game > Rivalries > Part II
FC Celtic vs Rangers
Scotland has a diverse history of football hooliganism emerging from drunken fights in the 60s, skinhead organizations in the 70s and peaking with the "Casual" phenomenon of the mid-80s.Nowadays the local police does a good job with prevention, but incidents still occur. Aberdeen, Celtic and Glasgow Rangers are nearly always associated with these violent outbreaks. The latter two clubs have an especially poignant rivalry (known as the Old Firm rivalry) fueled by religious and sociological differences.FC Celtic and Glasgow Rangers have been the two primary contenders in the Scottish league since the late 1880s!Celtic supporters are referred to as "Tims," a combination from the name of Catholic gangs who called themselves the Tim Malloys and the Calton area of Glasgow. Rangers' fans call themselves Billy boys (from an infamous Protestant razor gang in the late 1920's). The name Billy actually comes from the gang's founder Billy Fullerton.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid
Known as Superclassico or El Derby Espanol, the Barca versus Real match attracts immense attention across Spain as well as Europe. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, a morally and ethnically independent region with its own distinct dialect. Spanish dictator Franco repressed the regions' autonomous predisposition until his death in 1975. Fans and ultras take this derby with consideration extending far beyond the football pitch.
Olympiakos vs Panathinaikos
The battle of Athens between Olympiakos and Panathina is the biggest rivalry in Greece.Hooliganism is very common featuring anything from breaking seats, fighting, fireworks to street rioting.Olympiakos is known for their fanatical fans which live mostly in the lowest/poorest parts of the city.Panathinaikos supporters are from the higher/richer part of Athens.Since the past few years, Panathinaikos has been more successful in European competition.
Boca vs River Plate
The biggest derby in Argentina is the Boca versus River Plate match.It evokes great interest and passion across the entire country.Both clubs were founded in the poor district of Buenos Aires called La Boca. In the 1930s, River Plate relocated to an area called Nunez and is nowadays preferred by the upper classes.On the other hand, Boca Juniors has a larger fan base that is mostly made up of working class people. They call themselves Xeneizes, meaning Genoese (Boca's earliest supporters were Genovese immigrants).
SK Rapid Vienna vs FK Austria Magna Vienna
thanks to scremo, www.ultrasrapid.at and www.westtribuene.at
The derby of Vienna is between SK Rapid and FK Austria. The match often transitions onto Austria's national ground, Ernst-Happel stadium. The fans from both sides always come prepared for grand, choreographed exhibitions. In some occasions, riots break out. Austrian police takes special security measures whenever the two rivals meet. In a recent encounter between Rapid and Austria, the latter club was fined 30.000€ because of lack of security. SK Rapid on the other hand had to pay 10.000€ in compensation to their fans throwing fireworks on the pitch and delaying kick-off for half an hour!